Page 45 of Learning Curves

Audrey set the lights on her tree to softly flicker.

She’d been thrilled when she found lights with different settings so she could set them to white or multicolored, flashing or steady, depending on her mood.

The gently flickering multicolored lights seemed fitting for tonight because she felt like a pulsing mass of colors in anticipation of seeing Michelle.

She was supposed to be here any minute, and maybe Audrey had gone a bit overboard preparing for her, but Michelle had sounded so sad on the phone on Christmas Day. It was almost New Year’s Eve now, but Audrey wanted to make sure Michelle had all the holiday cheer she could handle tonight.

Christmas music played softly through the speakers, and two gifts were wrapped beneath the tree in red-and-white-striped paper, topped with shiny silver bows. She’d put a chicken in the oven to roast right after she’d finished baking an apple pie, and consequently her house smelled amazing too.

Now all she needed was Michelle.

Right on cue, she heard a knock at the door. Audrey rushed to answer it. She pulled the door open to reveal Michelle standing there in a green sweater and black jeans, an enormous gift bag beside her on the porch and a small box in one hand.

Audrey’s arms were around her almost before she realized what she was doing. “Merry belated Christmas. You look fantastic.” She pulled back just far enough to press her lips to Michelle’s, thrilled by how enthusiastically Michelle responded to her kiss.

“So do you ... at least, I think so. You didn’t give me a chance to look at you properly yet,” Michelle teased.

“Well, if you insist.” Audrey released her, motioning Michelle inside, then closed the door behind her.

Michelle made a show of looking Audrey up and down, appreciating the red knit dress she wore. “Stunning. Did you dress up just for me?”

“I did. What can I say? I was excited to spend my first Christmas with you. Or late Christmas ... you know what I mean.”

“I do.” Michelle walked through the living room to set her gifts under the tree next to the ones Audrey had wrapped.

Audrey couldn’t begin to imagine what was in the huge bag, but she was just as interested in the smaller box Michelle had brought.

Sometimes the best gifts came in small packages.

She couldn’t wait to see what Michelle had gotten her and to give her gifts to Michelle.

She felt positively giddy with anticipation.

Audrey had never been this invested in a relationship before. In fact ... “There was one thing that bothered me the whole time I was at my parents’.”

“There was?” Michelle turned to face her with a look of concern.

“But you said you’d had a nice holiday.” It seemed like her accent had gotten sharper since she’d visited the UK, and Audrey loved it.

She loved Michelle . The realization swept over her, swift and sudden, leaving her reeling.

Oh wow. Talk about getting ahead of herself . ..

“I wasn’t sure what to call you,” Audrey managed.

“We hadn’t really discussed it, and things were so new between us before we left for Christmas break, but .

.. can I call you my girlfriend, or is it too soon?

” The question felt woefully inadequate now that Audrey had realized the depth of her feelings, but to her relief, Michelle was smiling.

“Actually, I was wondering the same thing—not that my family would have wanted to hear about you regardless—but yes, I would like to call you my girlfriend, even if I feel a bit old to have a girlfriend.”

“We can use a different term if you prefer. Partner or significant other?”

Michelle waved a hand. “Whichever. I’m not picky, but ... we haven’t really talked about the age difference between us, aside from you having been my student, and maybe we should?”

“Nah,” Audrey countered. “Age is just a number. We’re both mature adults, and that’s all that matters as far as I’m concerned.” She motioned for Michelle to follow her into the kitchen so she could pour drinks. “Mulled wine?”

Michelle accepted the glass Audrey handed her. “Mm, perfect.”

They sat side by side on the sofa, staring at the Christmas tree. “I take it you and Kelly were the same age?”

“Yes.” Michelle sounded thoughtful. “And in that way, it’s good that you and I have a different dynamic, because things between me and Kelly were not good.

The more distance I get from that relationship, the more I realize how bad it was.

I always felt less with her. Her career came first, her wants, her needs.

With you, I don’t know how to explain it, but everything just feels easy in a way I’m not sure it ever did with Kelly. ”

Audrey’s heart felt too big for her chest. “I’m so sorry you felt that way in your marriage, but I’m so happy about how you feel with me, and for the record, I feel the same. Resisting you was the hard part. Being with you has been one of the easiest things I’ve ever done.”

“With you, I feel like more ,” Michelle murmured, and after she’d just confessed that her ex-wife made her feel less, those might’ve been the most beautiful words Audrey had ever heard. “You make me feel like a better version of myself.”

“Oh, Michelle ...” Audrey blinked back tears.

“I just wanted you to know.”

Michelle gazed at her with such warmth, such affection, it was almost more than Audrey could take.

She wanted to declare her love and beg Michelle to be hers forever, no matter how ridiculous that sounded, given how new their relationship was.

Because she felt like more with Michelle too.

Audrey felt like she mattered to Michelle in a way she hadn’t in her previous relationships, like she was an important part of Michelle’s future, not merely a fun distraction.

The Christmas tree cast flickering colors over Michelle’s face as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” played softly through the speakers, and it was all just .

.. perfect. Then Michelle was in her arms, mulled wine held precariously as they kissed.

Michelle’s lips were hungry and insistent as they moved against Audrey’s. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too. For the record, I’m hoping you’ll stay tonight.”

“I’d love to.” Michelle nipped at her lip before lifting her head. “Also, I’d like to see as much of you as possible between now and the end of winter break.”

“Same. I have no plans except working on some new ceramic pieces.”

“And I have no plans except working on my book. Perhaps I could bring my laptop over one day, and we could work together?”

“I’d love that.”

“Good, but Audrey ...” Michelle’s wine tipped dangerously as she maneuvered herself so her knees bracketed Audrey’s, straddling her.

“Yes?” Audrey asked breathlessly, her brain completely scrambled by the warm press of Michelle’s body against hers.

“How badly do you want to do whatever holiday festivities you have planned, or can I get you naked first?” Her eyes blazed into Audrey’s, and the raw need there made Audrey’s heart race. “Because when I say I missed you, I really missed you.”

Audrey had the whole evening mapped out, but ... “Anything we do tonight counts as part of our holiday festivities, right?”

Michelle nodded, leaning in for another kiss.

“Actually, I have an idea,” Audrey murmured against her lips, then slid out from beneath Michelle. She placed both their wineglasses on the coffee table, then took the throw blanket from the back of the sofa and spread it in front of the Christmas tree. “What do you think?”

Michelle’s response was to stand up from the sofa with a sort of grace Audrey would never possess in a million years.

She crossed the room and knelt on the blanket in front of Audrey.

Her hands cupped Audrey’s face as she drew her in for the kind of kiss that made the temperature in the room seem to skyrocket.

Slowly, Michelle guided Audrey to the floor beneath her.

Her hands were busy, roaming and caressing, building friction between them.

She murmured an endless stream of “Yes, darling” and “You’re so beautiful” and “I need you” as their clothes came off.

Audrey had never seen this side of Michelle before, equal parts gentle and ravenous.

They made passionate love in front of the Christmas tree, and Audrey thought she might never get over the beauty of Michelle’s bare skin against the backdrop of colorful twinkling lights.

Afterward, they lay together, staring up at the tree with their arms around each other.

In the kitchen, the timer beeped, letting Audrey know the chicken was ready, and she groaned good-naturedly, not ready to move just yet.

She also didn’t want to put her dress back on.

“How do you feel about enjoying the rest of our Christmas celebration in our pajamas?”

“One hundred percent in favor,” Michelle answered without hesitation. “My mother would be scandalized by the very idea.”

“Do you mean you’ve never opened presents in your pajamas?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Michelle’s face was pressed against Audrey’s chest, her words spreading warmth over Audrey’s skin. “I’d say I’m long overdue, wouldn’t you?”

As it turned out, Michelle loved opening presents in pajamas, or at least, she loved preparing to open presents while nestled in a cozy hoodie, lounge pants, and thick socks.

She and Audrey had enjoyed a delicious dinner—also in pajamas—and now they sipped mulled wine as they settled on the sofa together.

Michelle could practically see her mother’s disapproving glare but immediately pushed the thought away. She was forming new traditions, and she was enjoying herself in the process.

“Hey, before we get started, how did it go with Daniel?” Audrey asked.